General Anxiety Disorder or, G.A.D, makes the sufferer feel anxious regardless of the situation they are in. Symptoms of G.A.D. may vary from one sufferer to another (see Anxiety Symptoms Explained) However, we would remind you that G.A.D., like all anxiety disorders, has nothing to do with insanity.

G.A.D. sufferers often worry excessively about family health, safety and the future. In many cases, depression can form part of G.A.D. either as part of the cause or as a result of the frustration felt about G.A.D. It is therefore essential that people check things out with their doctor to make sure they get the correct type of help.

G.A.D. sufferers usually manage to face fearful or dreaded situations or places even though they often find it very difficult. However, if a pattern of anxiety starts to occur, e.g. avoidance of places, or excessive checking, then it may be the onset of another type of anxiety disorder, such as a Phobia or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  No Panic can help you deal with these illnesses.

The Fear Response

All anxiety disorders, for example, phobias are centered around our natural reactions to fear.  People who suffer from Phobias are really afraid of the feelings of fear that accompany their feared situation.  Nearly all phobias are related around situations, places, object or animals which cannot possibly harm them.

Fear is a natural response in all of us.  It keeps us safe by making sure that most of the time we are not in dangerous situations.  However sometimes when we are not thinking about what we are doing, we do things that are dangerous, e.g. stepping off the pavement without looking and almost getting run over.  The vehicle, as it is getting close, will probably sound its horn and our ‘fear response’ will get us out of danger.  The shock to our system, when something like this happens, is enormous and very unpleasant.  This may cause us to have some unpleasant symptoms, sweating, shaking, trembling, feeling nauseous, and our heart pounds.  Without our fear response, we would not have reacted but stood where we were in the road and the consequence of that is not hard to imagine.

Fear is a skill, which we have learned as we grow up.  How many times do we see children run onto a busy road?  They have not learned the fear response.

It can be seen clearly that fear in the right place is essential to our well-being.  Without it, I doubt if most of us would survive very long.  Having established that we need it to survive, what has this to do with phobias or anxiety disorders?  The answer is that, over a long period of time, sufferers have learned too much fear and misinterpret situations as if they are a real danger.   Our body will always respond to the tension in our body and the way we think with the primitive reaction of the ‘fight or flight’ response.

How can No Panic help?
No Panic specialises in self-help recovery and our services include:
Providing people with the skills they need to manage their condition and work towards recovery.
Our aim is to give you all of the necessary advice, tools and support that you will need to recover and carry out this journey. No Panic Recovery Programs